Pianissimo device or expression-governor.



No. 877,604. PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908.

I. B. SMITH.

PIANISSIMO DEVICE 0R EXPRESSION GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

9 i will!! a 2 Zibwuew fiwelzzolf M; )h My fimrgfilmz'ifz/ n4! NOIIIJ nun co. vunmavolv. n t

PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. I. B. SMITH. PIANISSIMO DEVICE 0R EXPRESSION GOVERNOR.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.1. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

w ta dq u THE NaRRls No. 877,604. PATENTED JAN. 28, 1908. I. B. SMITH.

PIANISSIMO DEVICE OR EXPRESSION GOVERNOR.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 1 1906.

) 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

a; "5.. 23 g g 14 n Mizj 20 I. 1 Inna/12m j- III iuywn III THE NaRms rsrsxs co, wasmmrrrw, n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRVING B. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRELLE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1908.

Application filed September 1. 1906. Serial No. 332.967.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRVING B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at N o. 2149 North lVarnock street, Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pianissimo Devices or Expression-Governors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic musical instrument players, particularly concerned with those characters or types of players which are incorporated within the casing of the instrument, practically as a component part thereof.

The invention, in the first place, relates to improvements in the expression governor forming the subject of Letters Patent, No. 777,226 dated Dec. 13, 1904, and has for its object to improve the arrangement of such expression governor by constructing the same of a. plurality of independent sections having appropriate means for operation thereof by manipulation of finger-keys, whereby the sections of the governor may be operated in unison, or each section operated independently of the other or others, and whereby each end of each section may be manipulated, so that a greater variety of expression-efl'ect may be secured than is possible according to the arrangement shown in the Letters Patent aforesaid.

The invention has for its further object the provision of means associated with an expression governor for automatic musical instrument players, whereby such expression mechanism may be placed out of commission, leaving the instrument to be played manually with any desired expression from maximum or fortissimo, to minimum or pianissimo.

W'ith these objects in view the invention resides in the mechanism hereinafter described.

That which is regarded as new will be set forth in the claims appended to the description.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one, and the preferred, embodiment of the inventiom Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the expression governor disposed to permit the hammers to strike the strings fortissimo; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the expression governor, so disposed, as shown in full lines, that the hammers will strike thestrings pianissimo, and, as shown in dotted lines, so that the hammers will strike with intermediate force, for instance piano; Fig. 3 is a front elevation; Fig. 4 is a detail of adjustment; Fig. 5 is a detail of shafts on which the means for actuating the expression governor is hung; Fig. 6 is a detail cross-section of the expression governor Fig. 7 is a top plan view of an arrangement of finger-keys for actuating the expression governor taken on the line xc;, Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 9 is a detail illustrating the telescopic arrangement of finger-key levers, taken on line y 2 Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 is a graphic illustration. of some of the different positions of the expression governor, which control the initial position of the string-striking hammers and the force with which they strike the strings, governing the amplitude of vibration of the strings and the consequent volume of tone produced.

In the said drawings the reference numeral 1 designates, generally, the piano casing, 2 the keyboard thereof, 3 the strings, 4 the string-striking hammers, 5 the expression governor which operates as a rest rail to govern the initial position of the hammers, before they commence their travel to strike the strings, and accordingly govern the force of impact of. the hammers upon the strings, and consequently the value of tone produced. As shown (and as before stated, this is regarded as an independent item of invention) this expression governor consists of a plurality of separate and independent sections, arranged in front of and adapted to act directly upon the hammers, and in the aggregate covering or including all the hammers designed to be utilized in automatic playing. Each end of each section is independently controllable. For this purpose each end of each section is hung to an inde pendently operable shaft, as 6, 7, 8, and 9, by means of hanger arms 10, rigidly connected to said shaft, so that either or both, or either end of either section may be caused to approach and recede from the strings of the instrument, and cause the hammers influenced thereby correspondingly to approach or recede from the strings, and cause the governor as an entirety, or either section thereof independently, to assume various angular positions obliquely to the line of strings 3.

By reason of the entire independence of the .several sections of the governor, all the effects of expression may be secured which are possible with the arrangement shown in the aforesaid Letters Patent, and many addi tional ones also which cannot possibly be secured by the patented arrangement.

The several shafts to which the expression governor-sections are hung, are arranged to rock in suitable journals or bearings. For compactness, the outer or extreme ends of the sections swing from shafts arranged in alinement, but capable of independent operation, the adjacent ends of said shafts being supported in a common bearing 11, as illus trated in Fig. 5. The inner or adjacent ends of the governor sections are hung from independent shafts, as best shown in Fig.' 3. T 0 rock said shafts and dispose the governor sections, independently or together, or either end of either section thereof inde pendently, the several shafts, appropriatedto the ends of the sections, are provided with crank arms 12, to which are connected rods or links 13, which rods or links are also connected to finger-key levers 1 1, by manipulation of which, as will be understood without further detail, the sections may be operated in unison or independently, or either end of either of said sections may be manipulated. Some results of the various adjustments of the sections are shown graphically in Fig. 10. In illustration 0, of this figure the sections are disposed close to the piano strings to produce a pianissimo effect,

and in illustration b are disposed a maximum distance from the strings to produce fortissimo effect. In illustration 0, the section appropriated to the bass division of the instrument is arranged to produce pianissimo, and the section appropriated to the treble operates to produce fortissimo. In illustration d the reverse is true. The section appropriated to the bass division, is to produce fortissimo, and that appropriated to the treble section, pianissimo. In illustration e the section appropriated to the bass is adjusted for pianissimo, and that appropriated to the treble runs from for tissimo to pianissimo. Inf the section appropriated to the bass division is arranged to produce pianissimo, and the treble division to run from pianissimo to fortissimo. In 9 the adjustment'is such that in the bass division the notes run from fortissimo to pianissimo, and likewise in the treble division from pianissimo to fortissimo. In it adjustment is such that in the bass, and also in the treble, the notes will run from pianissimo, to fortissimo. In illustration i adjust ment is such that, beginning with the lowest bass and ending with the highest treble, the notes will first run from pianissimo to fortissimo, and then to pianissimo. In adjustment is such that the notes-will run, commencing at the lowest bass and ending with the highest treble the notes will first run from fortissimo to pianissimo and then to fortissimo. In it the adjustment is such that the noteswill run, from the lowest bass to the highest treble, from pianissimo to fortissimo. In the illustration Z the notes,

from the lowest bass to the highest treble,

will run from fortissimo to pianissimo. Obviously, other adjustments may be made to secure other effects.

The several keys are composed of a plurality of telescopic parts 14., each carrying a finger piece 14'? as best shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, to the end that they may be drawn out in front of the piano key-base for manipulation, as shown in Fig. 2, or be moved beneath said base, and practically concealed from view when the automatic playing attachment is not in use, as shown in Fig. 1. As shown one section 14 slides on the other behind clasps 15, and is provided with beads 14:

which are arranged to take into a socket 15 in one of the clasps 15 to hold the sections extended or retracted, the extended position being seen in Figs. 8 and 9. The finger pieces 14 are closely associated or arranged closely adjacent to one another in order that they may be readily manipulated by the fingers of the performer.

Each key lever is pivoted intermediate its ends, as best shown in Fig. 7, upon a common pivot pin 16, and, preferably by the means hereinafter referred to, said levers are maintained in such position that the expression governor controlled thereby will be disposed to cause the hammers to strike pianissimo, as shown in full lines of Fig. 2. The preferred arrangement by which this result is accomplished is shown in the drawing and consists in connecting the rear end of the fingerkey levers by means of springs 23 with the arms 17 of three-armed levers, pivoted in ears 20 depending from the keyboard base,

or a plate attached thereto, the second arms 18 of which are-connected to the pivot pin 16, and the third arms 19 of which are connected by links 21, to a controller 22 pivoted at 22 to a plate secured beneath the keyboard base said controller in the instance shown being substantially U-shaped and extending across the finger keys. These links, preferably as shown, are composed of two parts, connected by slot and screw connections, so that the links may beadjusted to accommodate the distance between the third arms of the levers and the controller, which may vary in different instruments.

The connection of the links to the controller is such that when the controller is in operative position the connection is beyond the dead-center so that the action of the springs 23 serves to hold the controller in that position; and. likewise when the controller is in the position shown in Fig. 1, said springs act to so maintain it. Manual exertion is necessary to shift the position of the controller. Coming now, again, to the specific arrangement above described, wherein the normal, automatic-playing position of the hammers is pianissimo, the parts are so combined that when the controller 22, is thrown out of operative position, as in Fig. 1, the hammers 4 will automatically assume fortissimo position, proper for manual playing, I will premise that this part of my invention is applicable for use whether the expression governor consist of independent sections as described or of other type, such as shown in said Letters Patent No. 777,226 of 1904. The controller or throw-out, is shown in face view in Fig. 3, in side elevation, and in a different position, in Fig. 2, and in section in Fig. 8.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, wherein the controller is, thrown out of use, so that the instrument may be played manually and any diversity of expression secured in the usual way in such instruments, when it is desired to play the instrument automatically and mechanically govern the expression thereof the finger-key levers are first extended to the position shown in Fig. 2. The controller is then swung from what may be termed its inoperative position shown in Fig. 1, to its active position, shown in Fig. 2, with the result that, through the medium of the connected links 21, the three-armed levers are swung on their journals, and the springs 23 are distended and placed under tension, as shown in Fig. 2, consequently drawing down upon the rear ends of said finger-key levers and, through the medium of the rods 13, shifting both sec tions 5 of the expression governor, which acts to move the hammers 4 to a normal automatic-playing position relatively near the strings of the instrument so that in normal automatic playing notes of pianissimo tonevolume will be produced. Expression of any individual note, or group of notes, or a run of notes either in the treble or bass division of the instrument, may be effected by manipulating the appropriate finger-keys associated with the sections of the expression governor, some of the possible variations of expression being graphically shown in Fig. 10, as before explained.

WVhen the instrument is to be played manually, it is desirable, if not absolutely essential as key-board stringed musical instruments are commonly constructed, that the position of the hammers shall be a maximum distance from the strings so that the manual performer may secure in the usual manner any expression for any note between fortissimo and pianissimo. According to this invention, that this desired condition of affairs may be obtained, when the controller is swung from its operative position shown in Fig. 2 to what has been termed its inoperative position, as in Fig. 1, the eccentrically connected links 21, acting upon the threearmed levers relieve the tension of the springs 23, whereupon. the hammers are free to assume their normal manual playing posi tion, said hammers swinging the expression governor from the position shown in Fig. 2

to that shown in full lines of Fig. 1.

The several key-levers are arranged to be moved in slots 24 in the controller 2 and any one or more of said levers may be set or fixed in any desired position to secure, at the will of the operator, any desired expression either in the treble or in the bass, which result is accomplished, in the type of mechanism shown in the drawing, by providing the finger-keys with pins 25 adapted to enter seats 26 there for, provided in the controller adjacent to the slots 24, as best shown in Figs. 3 and S. This may be effected without in anywise dis turbing the rear ends of the finger-keys and the elements thereby operated, because of the telescopic construction of the finger-key levers herein before referred to.

I have made provision for possible necessary adjustment to accommodate an. expression control mechanism of standard size and proportions to various instruments; appropriate adjustments for the connection of the rods 13 with the crank-arms 12 being shown in detail in Fig. 4, where said rods have screw threaded ends and their connection to the crank-arms may be adjusted by means of nuts 27. Not only is this adjustment valuable for the purpose stated, but, and which is of more importance, it is valuable in the initial or subsequent adjustment of the parts to ac- .curately position the hammers so that a nor mal pianissimo position may be obtained with great nicety. The three-armed levers are provided with a plurality of perforations 28 one set for receiving the pivot pin 16 and the other for receiving the pins by which the links 21 are connected with said levers; and the rear ends of the finger key-levers are provided with a plurality of perforations 29 so that extension arms 30 to which the lower ends of the rods are connected may be adjustably secured thereto.

I have not illustrated any arrangement of devices for actuating the hammers automatically; as my invention is not concerned there with and the same may be of any desired character, either electrical, pneumatic or otherwise. The shaft 31 shown is that made known, for example in the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 777,226 of 1904, and is illustrated merely as a key to indicate one character of player mechanism to which the present invention is applicable.

hile I have shown and described an arrangement wherein the normal position of the hammers 4, when the instrument is to be played automatically, is such as to give a pianissimo effect, I do not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to this ar &

rangement, except where it is specifically claimed, as obviously the parts might be otherwise arranged without departing from the spirit of the invention; but however arranged the utility of the independent-section expression governor would remain the same; and the utility of the controller 22 above re ferred to, will be in the fact that it is pivoted so that it may be swung in and out of the way and sight when not in use, a consideration of importance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. An expression-governor for automatic musical instrument-players comprising a plurality of independent sections, and a plurality of operatively independent adjusting means connected with the ends of said sections, whereby said sections may be moved in unison or separately, or either end of either section may be moved.

2. An expression-governor for automatic musical-instrument players comprising a plurality of independent sections, and a plurality of operatively independent adjusting means connected with the ends of said sections comprising finger keys arranged closely adjacent to one another, whereby said sections may be moved in unison or separately, or either end of either section may be moved.

3. In an automatic musical-instrument player, the combination of an expressiongovernor consisting of a plurality of independent sections, independent shafts from which said sections are operated, one connected to each end of each section, and operatively independent means connected to the several shafts for operation of the governor sections.

4. In an automatic musical-instrument player, the combination of an expression governor consisting of a plurality of independent sections, independent shafts from which said sections are operated one connected to each end of each section, and operatively independent means comprising finger-keys connected to the several shafts for operation of the governor sections, said finger keys being arranged closely adjacent one another.

5. An automatic musical-instrument player, including mechanism for governing the expression comprising a governor cooperatively associated with the hammers, means for operating said governor, and means combined with thegovernor-operating means for shifting said governor to a normal operative position for automatic'playing and withdrawing it from active position to permithnanual playing of the instrument.

6. The combination of the hammers and the strings of a musical-instrument, an expression-governor cooperatively associated with the hammers of the instrument, fingerkey levers connected with said governor, and

a shiftable controller combined with said levers and cooperating therewith for control ling the position of the hammers.

7. In automatic mechanism for playing musicalinstruments the combination with an expression governor, of finger-key-mechanism for operating the same, a lever having spring connection with the finger-key levers, a shiftable controller, and a connection between said controller and lever, for the purpose described.

8. A piano having an expression mechanism, finger-key levers connected for opera tion thereof, movable beneath the keyboard of the instrument when not in use and movable to an exposed position for manipulat-ion and a guide, in which the finger-key levers are disposed, adapted to be shifted to inoperative and operative positions whereby the guide may be concealed from view when the automatic mechanism is not in use.

9. A piano having an expression governor associated with the hammers thereof, a plurality of finger-key levers operatively connected with the governor, and a finger-key lever guide pivoted beneath the key-board base of the piano and provided with leverways and a series of finger-key-holding means.

10. A piano having an expression governor associated therewith, a plurality of fingerkey levers operatively connected with the governor, and a lever guide pivoted beneath the key-board base of the piano and provided with lever-ways.

11. A piano having an expression governor associated therewith, a plurality of finger-key levers operatively connected with the governor, a lever guide pivoted beneath the key-board base of the piano and adapted to be swung upward thereunder, and interconnecting means between the said levers and guide whereby the levers may be set to any desired position to obtain a predetermined expression.

12. In an expression-mechanism for automatic musical-instrument players, the combination with an expression-governor, fingerkey mechanism for operating said governor, a shiftable controller, connected to the fingerkey-levers whereby the position of the governor is determined by the position of the controller.

13. The combination of the strings and hammers and the keyboard of a musical instrument, an expression-governor consisting of a plurality of independent sections arranged to act directly against the hammers of distinct scale divisions of the instrument, and independent key-levers arranged adjacent and beneath the key-board independently connected to the ends of the sections of the expression-governor, whereby said sections may be operated in unison, or independently, or either end of either section may be operated.

( is to be 14. The combination of the strings, the hammers and the key-board of a musical instrument, an expression governor consisting of a plurality of independent sections arranged to act directly against the hammers of distinct scale divisions of the instrument, means combined with and operating upon said governor sections to cause the same to assume a osition which will dispose the hammers c ose to the strings to produce pianissimo effects, means for withdrawing said governor sections to permit the hammers to assume a normal playing position to produce fortissimo expression when the instrument played manually, and finger-keylevers one for each end of each section of the governor and independently connected with said ends whereby said sections may be operated in unison, or independently, or either end of either section may be operated.

15. The combination of the strings the hammers and the keyboard of a musical instrument, an expression governor consisting of a plurality of independent sections arranged to act directly against the hammers of distinct scale divisions of the instrument, finger key levers operatively connected to the governor sections and a controller pivoted to the key-board-base and in which the finger-key levers move, said levers and con troller being provided with means adapted to engage one another whereby said key levers may be set to different positions to produce any desired expression.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRVING B. SMITH.

Witnesses H. M. WVr-IITMAN, YV. H. RICE. 

